STONER OWNER

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU AS A CANNABIS ENTREPRENEUR? The stories of hope and healing that I have heard or been involved in motivate me beyond belief. Waking up each day and knowing that my work is making a difference in the lives of others is a blessing beyond measure. … I am going to keep sharing this love and knowledge to as many people as possible, in hopes to keep our communities happy and healthy.

WHAT DO YOU THINK NEEDS TO CHANGE ABOUT THE INDUSTRY? First off, taxes! From the patients to the farmers, taxes need to be reformed ASAP to keep this medicine affordable and accessible to all. The industry needs to keep the small farmers and craft producers in a place where they’re set up for success. This problem, along with the corporate takeover of Cannabis, separates the producers with a passion for this medicine and has pushed so many amazing folks out of this industry.

WHAT ASPECTS OF THE COMMUNITY DO WE NEED TO PROTECT AS THE INDUSTRY GROWS?

“THE STORIES OF HOPE AND HEALING THAT I HAVE HEARD OR BEEN INVOLVED Compassion is key! We need to protect and enhance our compassionate Cannabis IN MOTIVATE ME BEYOND programs to give access to all those that need BELIEF.” this miraculous medicine. Dear Cannabis is a program that is doing amazing work connecting farmers, manufacturers and retailers to provide Cannabis to those in need. Legalization and new regulations in the California Cannabis market have hindered the gifting of Cannabis in a way that has truly hurt community members like veterans, terminally-ill and low-income patients. Operation Evac, jazzcabbage a.k.a. BLK CANNAJOY, and Sweetleaf Collective are a few of the programs that help contribute to providing safe access and affordable medicine to our Cannabis community.

Founder Emily Scarbrough EMPRESS EXTRACTS

As a legacy member of the California Cannabis community, Empress Extracts Founder Emily Scarbrough understands the power of the plant. We had the chance to connect with the charismatic entrepreneur behind Empress Extracts (@empress.extracts) to discuss the Cannabis industry, her philosophy, and her company.

WHAT PATH LED YOU TO THE CANNABIS COMMUNITY? I was fortunate to be raised in the Bay Area with an accepting family that always had a love for Cannabis. My mom is a master gardener and I’m really lucky to have family in Northern California that has cultivated for generations. I have always loved helping people, and Cannabis has helped me to do just that.

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN PRODUCING EXTRACTS AND CONCENTRATES? My sister asked me to help the mom of a friend who was given four months to live due to a stage four lung cancer diagnosis. She asked me to make a special batch of medicine known as Rick Simpson Oil to ‘kill her cancer.’ I pulled together my resources, did some research, and made a special batch. That woman went into remission, and I started to receive multiple cards thanking me for this woman’s life. I knew from that point that I was meant to extract, educate, and expand the knowledge of this powerful medicine to help others. I made cold-water hash at a young age and loved seeing no part of the plant wasted. I saw a need in the market for concentrates and was fortunate to be friends with tons of amazing growers that had fabulous material. I used the product from my own indoor grow and other growers’ trim to create concentrates that highlight the high quality Cannabis of Northern California, creating the brand Empress Extracts and Gemmy’s. IF YOU COULD ACCOMPLISH ONE THING AS A LEADER IN THE CANNABIS COMMUNITY, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Education on the healing powers of Cannabis is my main goal. … As a mother, sister, niece and friend of multiple cancer survivors, I hope to be a voice that can be heard over the negative stereotypes and stigmas that are placed on Cannabis as a medicine. I strive to empower people to provide a hopeful and better solution for their grandma’s arthritis pain, uncle’s cancer, friends’ sleeping problems, or whatever ailment that could be causing anyone pain. If I can educate and enhance the healthcare world with a solution to their medical or mental health problems, I will leave the world a better place and show my son how to empower those in this world with health, hope and healing.

ANY FUN PROJECTS ON THE HORIZON? Empress is always looking to expand, educate, enlighten and collaborate with good people. I have been working with Novium, which is a CBD-based gel cap company that is really connecting Cannabis to the medicinal market with an awesome user-friendly product that could get grandma or other non-Cannabis users to give THC and CBD a try. … I’m also a part of Good People, which is a consulting network of TONS of amazing folks that have extensive knowledge of all aspects of Cannabis. I’m working on expanding Empress Extracts and creating more ways to consume Gemmy’s RSO/FECO that will help the patients. Also, I have 60 acres in Northern California that I am planning to do some amazing things with. A few plans/ideas include: large scale art, Cannabis, music, camping/glamping, sustainability, psilocybin, CBD, wellness, compassion, community, and fun! I feel blessed to be a part of this growing and evolving Cannabis community at this time in life – I plan to make the most of it and continue to make a positive impact any way possible.

A Stoner Owner is a Cannabis business owner who has a relationship with the plant. We want to buy and smoke Cannabis from companies that care about their products, employees and the plant. You wouldn’t buy food from a restaurant where the cooks don’t eat in the kitchen, so why buy corporate weed grown by a company only concerned with profits? Stoner Owner approval means a company cares, and we love weed grown with care. Let’s retake our culture and reshape a stigma by honoring those who grow, process and sell the best Cannabis possible.

DOT COM

WE ARE ONE

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